₦airaland Forum

November 7, 2014 by Ade Adesomoju, Abuja 0 Comments



The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, have insisted that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, is no longer entitled to security details.

They argued that Tambuwal had ceased to be a member of the House and its Speaker, having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, which in 2011 sponsored his election into the House of Representatives, to the All Progressives Congress.

They maintained that Tambuwal had now become an ordinary citizen, who was no longer entitled to the privileges attached to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

These are the contentions canvassed by both the Inspector-General of Police and Adoke in a joint counter-affidavit, which they filed before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in response to the suit by Tambuwal and the APC.

The IGP and the AGF are the 5th and 7th defendants in the suit respectively.

The plaintiffs filed the suit to challenge the withdrawal of his security details, alleged threat by the PDP to declare his seat vacant and remove him as Speaker.

The lawyer, who represented the IGP and the AGF, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), argued that the police authorities could not be accused of breaching the Constitution by withdrawing Tambuwal’s security details, since he (Tambuwal) had lost his seat as House member and Speaker.

The counter affidavit, which was deposed to on behalf of the AGF and IGP by one of their lawyers, Nnamdi Ekwem, read in part, “The 1st plaintiff (Tambuwal) vacated his seat in the House of Representatives as a member of that House, when he became a member of the 2nd plaintiff (All Progressive Congress) in October 2014, having been elected in 2011 on the platform of the 1st defendant (PDP).

“The seat of the 1st plaintiff in the House of Representatives became automatically vacant by virtue of his defection to the 2nd plaintiff (APC) and consequently ceased to be the Speaker of the 3rd defendant (the House of Representatives).

“The first plaintiff is not constitutionally entitled to security details and as such, the 5th defendant did not contravene any law by its withdrawal of the 1st plaintiff’s security details. The withdrawal of the security details of the 1st plaintiff was necessitated by the fact the he had vacated his office as a member of the House of Reps and consequently ceased to be the Speaker of the 3rd defendant.

“The 1st plaintiff is no longer a member of the House of Representatives and as such not entitled to any right or privilege attached to the office of the Speaker of the 3rd defendant. That, the 1st plaintiff, as an ordinary citizen of Nigeria, was not exposed to any danger of bodily harm because of the withdrawal of his security details.”

The other defendants in the suit are the PDP, its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

http://www.punchng.com/news/tambuwal-no-longer-entitled-to-security-details-adoke-igp/

yinksob002:
Just to inform all prospective postgraduate students that repatriation fee is no longer a condition for study visa application. I was at the SA embassy in Lagos today to submit my application and one of d consulars confirmed it and only asked me to pay d visa fee i.e N8,600. However, you must hold your birth cert. with u cos that was d only reason why I was asked to come back on Thursday. All the best guys..

Thank you for this information. Do you mean to type N18,600 @ the highlighted.

Use of sharia criminal codes in administering a country has remained what Boko Haram fights for. When 12 northern states adopted use of sharia criminal codes beginning year 2000 virtually all their leader were happy. The whirlwind they stated is now consuming them.

Any Southerner who truly loves he/herself should be heading home now. God help Nigeria.

November 4, 2014 by Eteobong Ekong


Members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, have instituted the Shara law in Mubi, Adamawa State, captured by the insurgents last week.

[b]The insurgents were also said to have amputated the hands of 10 residents said to have been found guilty of sundry offences, including looting of property of fleeing residents.

Sources in Mubi town said they saw the terrorists parading 10 persons whose hands were said to have been amputated.

The victims were said to been amputated in the presence of residents the insurgents asked to converge to witness the enforcement of Sharia law.

An eye witness account indicated that two imams were dragged out from a mosque and beheaded for allegedly preaching against Boko Haram. The insurgents also advised all Christians in the Mubi Local Government Area to relocate to other areas except they were prepared to be islamised or be killed.

The source further said that the Emir’s palace in Mubi had been converted to the residence of the ‘Amir’ and that the insurgents hoisted their flags to signify that they were in control of the palace.

Our correspondent learnt that the most affected by the development in Mubi were students of the Adamawa State University and the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. The students were said to have gone through torture before some of them reportedly escaped through the border between Nigeria and Cameroun.
[/b]
Some of them were said to still be in the bush.

“I must give thanks and praises to God almighty for spearing my life; I saw as people were being slaughtered like goats. I am too happy to see myself alive,” a female student of the Federal Polytechnic, told our correspondent in Yola on Sunday.

The insurgents said their mode of prayer was different from what Muslims in the town were used to and that they were “in Mubi to restore Islamic independence to the people and anybody who does not follow us must be killed.”

“We are not to hurt anyone but to free the people from religious slavery,” a source quoted the insurgents to have said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, has said that the Federal Government needs to adopt more stringent measures against Boko Haram in the North-East.

Mustapha told journalists on Monday at the Government House, Yola, that the state governments of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe had raised the alarm over the future of their states as a result of rising occupation of towns and villages by Boko Haram.

http://www.punchng.com/news/bharam-brings-mubi-under-sharia-amputates-10/

nikky5:
“If you will remember, when I came back in 1999, my first Minister of Power was late Bola Ige. I won’t say Bola didn’t know what he was doing and he said publicly that he would fix the power problems in six months.

“After one year, Bola with his capacity couldn’t fathom what was wrong with power. It was riddled with corruption.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/successors-abandoned-power-sector-obasanjo/

Baba Obasanjo is an elder and he ought to know how not to bring the memory of a dear one into disrepute. Whatever you sow; you shall reap sir.

Boy mangled by dogs sparks controversy

on October 31, 2014 / in Health, Just Human 9:27 pm /

By Chioma Obinna

The Father of the boy almost torn to pieces by dogs is in some kind of war with LASUTH. The father posts his account number on the Internet, soliciting for donations and accuses the hospital of abandoning his boy. But LASUTH says it is taking good care of the lad and he is recovering; that there was need for the father to solicit for donation from the public since the governor has picked up the bills.

WHEN a dog bites a man, it isn’t usually news. But when a man bites a dog, it makes the headlines. However the case of a four-year-old Master Omonigho Abraham, bitten by a dog, is one that is making the headlines over and over again.

The reason for such public attention is not far-fetched. Omonigho was savagely attacked by two full grown dogs of the German Shepherd breed belonging to their landlord, right in front of his parent’s home in Igando area of Lagos.
Master Omonigho Abraham the father

The boy was said to have been violently attacked by the fierce dogs while he was riding a bicycle outside their home with his elder brother, Bobby. During the attack, the little boy had his scalp completely chopped off by the man-eating dogs, exposing his skull.

The incident, which has created a lot of interest and concern within the community and even within the medical profession, is currently under investigation by the Police, even while the badly injured boy is still recovering at hospital.

According to the Police Veterinary doctor, preliminary medical investigations have been carried out on the dogs and the dogs were found to be in sound health.

Controversy has continued to trail the state of the boy’s health following two life- saving surgeries he underwent at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH and waves of reactions are yet to die down since the shocking incident occurred.

According to hospital records, the boy was rushed to LASUTH unconscious at about 10pm on the fateful day. It took doctors three agonising days to resuscitate him. At the last count, the boy has undergone two surgeries and awaiting another on the skull.

Since then, the boy has been on admission at the hospital. Succour, however, came his way when the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Health, took over the treatment and management of the boy at LASUTH precisely from October 10, 2014.

But rather than subside, the allegations over the incident have intensified. The good gesture of the State government, which ordinarily would have been seen as an olive branch appears to have been misconstrued.

Controversy began, few days ago, when Odia Abraham, Omonigho’s father, published an article alleging abandonment of his child by the hospital management. The publication which had an account number requesting donations of money for him (Odia) to save his dying child, took LASUTH management unawares. The development eventually sparked off investigation by the hospital management. Meanwhile, staff of the hospital and the family of the boy have continued to trade words. While Odia is insisting that his son is still critically ill and dying, the hospital management maintains that the boy is in good condition and awaiting the last lap of treatment.

According to the boy’s father, he decided to voice out when the boy’s head was opened on two occasions without the consultant coming to check the wound.

Odia said he was concerned because he would not want the efforts of the Lagos State Government to go to waste.

But the hospital management insists that at no time was the boy abandoned saying medical notes and nurses notes could attest to that fact.

However, Saturday Vanguard visited the BT, Burns and Plastic Ward of LASUTH where Omonigho is receiving treatment. It was exactly 2:37PM, Wednesday, 29 October 2014. Inside one of the waiting rooms Saturday Vanguard encountered the father and other people including the boy who was seen playing around. Could this be the same child who dying 48 hours ago before the publication of the allegations? Read the opinions of the parties below. Excerpts:

Truly, my child was abandoned for 2 weeks — Odia Abraham, boy’s father

“I said my child was abandoned for two weeks. This is how he was abandoned. This boy’s dressing days is usually Mondays and Fridays, on which the consultant always come to check his rate of improvement.

The first day it was opened, the man did not show up. Friday, he did not show up and the next day he did not show up, that was why I cried out. Was he not abandoned like that? The thing that pained me most is that even though the consultant did not show up there are other doctors that work with him; When they come in, I’d asked them if they could write out the boy’s drugs so that I could buy them, but they would say “wait for the professor.”

I will also ask: “who is to check the boy?” “Wait for the professor.” And even the nurses will say, “wait for the professor.” If you are in my shoes, won’t you voice out?

“We have been here now for a month and four days. Right from onset I have been the one footing the bill until some friends linked me up with some bloggers abroad. They now decided to write to the state governor of Lagos and Delta states. Immediately the letter gets to Gov. Fashola, he responded immediately. A week after, the Delta State Governor sent his own personal doctor, called Dr. Ufuoma to come and check the condition of the boy.

The Lagos State government gave me a letter that I should not buy anything or pays for anything and that even the one I have paid before should be refunded. They said a letter has been submitted to the Chief Medical Director, CMD, LASUTH; that they should be informed of anything urgent which they did not have there.

Right from that day, the treatment of the boy was stopped. I went back to the Ministry and they gave me original copy of the letter that was sent to them and asked me not to pay any money. Since the 10th, they have stopped treatment and I have been buying drugs; even my brother paid for the last drug yesterday (Tuesday).

The Child’s condition

There are people God has blessed with good health. I don’t know how to explain it to you. The boy may be running around but that does not mean he is okay. Yesterday, when they dressed the wound, he cried all through. You are asking me questions as if what I am saying is not true. You see him jumping because they have given him some antibiotics and other drugs that can reduce the pain. I will not keep quiet when the child is abandoned.

We had meeting with them yesterday. After the meeting, they have done a great work because it was the consultant himself that did it. I am impressed with their work since yesterday.

All I need now is my medical report for reference.

Father’s allegation is false, boy’s condition is very stable - Prof. Idowu Fadeyibi, Consultant Plastic Surgeon

The whole story about this patient started 34 days ago around 10 PM when this patient was rushed in unconscious. He was said to have been attacked by two dogs. The skull of posterior part of the head was exposed. The scalp was completely bitten off by the dogs. He had bled profusely and there were other injuries too on the face and around the trunk. So when we saw him we had to resuscitate him, and it took us about three days to resuscitate him at the emergency section there.

Finally by the third day he started coming round and we moved him to the ward. He had two surgical procedures and he has been on treatment since then. Basically what he is on now is wound care because of the extensive loss of the scalp; most of the posterior parts are involved. We have to remove part of the soft tissues that were left but dead. We have to stop all the points where blood was oozing from. So he is relatively stable.

The allegations

This whole thing started about 48 hours now. I was called by a friend in US asking me to go and check the internet. Subsequently, calls started coming from all over the world that somebody alleged that we abandoned a patient. Specifically, that the child has not been seen by any doctor and that the boy was unconscious and was dying; that people should pray that the boy will not die; that if the boy dies it will be on me; that I have refused to write a medical report for him. At the end of the blog he now put his account number there.

At that point, the most important thing at that point was to see the boy and I and the CMD came around and saw the boy playing around. The medical team went to the ward. We went through the case notes to see whether he had actually been abandoned. The nurses notes are there, the medical records were there to show whether this guy was ever seen and what happened within the period of those two weeks.

This place is a very big place. We have doctors of various categories and the same applies to my unit. We were admitting, operating and discharging patients during this same period. House officers and registrars were going to the ward to see patients. I was going to the ward at odd hours. In fact within those two periods we were conducting exams and so the usual ward round in the morning was no longer there but we were going and the nurses were informing us and in fact if you check the nurse records when the wound was opened the first Monday for us to come and see.

The other consultants in my unit actually went to see the patients and he was the one that said the patients should be covered up. Consequently, I carried other members of my unit to go and see not only him but all our patients and the nurses records are there.

That the nurses were just opening and applying dressing not doing anything and the wound was smelling I tell you if you leave a wound for two weeks even the other patients in the ward would complain, so that is not possible. Then, to say that they stopped giving treatment or drugs, the treatment chart is there, which anybody can check.

The first time he raised an observation like this I went to him and it was my phone he used to speak with CMD and he told him that if there was any need for anything he could not be provided for he should come straight to him. I saw the letter he was given by the state government. It states that in case there is anything that is needed by this patient he should contact a number. He has never contacted that number. He has never contacted the CMD. He just went to the blogger and put his account number. One can imply what that means.

The condition of the boy

You have seen the boy playing all around the wards, playing games and there is nothing to show that the boy is dying or weak and unconscious. That boy is very stable. The stage at which we are is to take care of the wound and get the wound ready for the next surgical procedure.

We are stimulating certain growth with the kind of dressing materials that we are using for him. We are stimulating certain tissues to grow over the exposed bone. When that grows over the exposed bone, we will now take skin from other part of his body to cover that.

Treatable in Nigeria

It is treatable here. Right there on the ward, there are two other patients with similar injuries, children too. Somebody you wrote of 48 hours ago, claiming he is unconscious – that the whole world should pray for him to survive – would not be playing around like that, even if we are magicians.

How long will treatment last


This is a complex re-constructive procedures, not just one. Our aim now is to get skin to cover the areas and that will suffice for now. The next stage is that there might be some unsightly scars, the portion may not be hair bearing. The next stage will now be to do cosmetics procedure to get hair bearing skin back to the place but that is not the important thing now. In reconstruction, the first thing is life, the next is function and the third is cosmetics.

Life is what we did initially to make sure he gets to this stage. Function is what we are trying to do now. Cosmetics can come later. If he wants to do all including cosmetics, the whole procedure must be about six months.


Government is taking care of the boy —CMD, Prof Adewale Oke

[b]About three weeks ago, on the Agatha blog, a story came out that the boy was in LASUTH and not well taken care of and that the boy was dying. Immediately, the state government led by his Excellency instructed that his care should be on the state. Since the admission, he has had two surgeries and been talking drugs, eating and even the money he expended before the state came in has been refunded.

Two days ago, on an another blog in the internet, there was another story that the boy was dying and critical and he hasn’t been seen by his doctor; that the last he saw the doctor was about two weeks ago and that he wanted assistant from all over the world. At the bottom of the piece there was an account number.

When I heard this I was obviously disturbed. So I went immediately to the wards because I had earlier told the man that if there was anything he should come to this office and I had not seen him. I went to the ward and I met the boy playing around with the mother and I asked whether there was any problem and she said none. I asked whether the boy was receiving medication she confirmed that and she also confirmed that the doctors were seeing the boy on a regular basis. People have been phoning from all over the world. Some people insulted him.

But what I told the father categorically is that one, the Governor has committed funds to managing the boy, and as such there is no need for him to access funds from anywhere; that the boy will get better, but that it will take time and may be up to six months. And on the air yesterday (Tuesday), he said Lagos was helping him. I am just saying this to show Nigerians that the story was not true.

The boy is healthy and running around. The story that the boy is dying is not true. The boy does not need any fund from anywhere because the government has taken over the treatment and as the fees accrue we will settle it.

[/b]
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/boy-mangled-dogs-sparks-controversy/#sthash.7OhsccLn.dpuf

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I don't want to believe the man raised unnecessary alarm knowing well how our medical personnel behave. Someone is pained that he alerted the public.

It shall be well with you, boy.

elume2020:
Update on repatriation fee. Please find attached
The Director-General invites any person who, prior to the coming into the Republic paid deposit as a guarantee of the return to his or her country origin, to approach, within a period up to 28 February 2015, any South African Mission in his or her country of origin for a refund of his or her deposit. The Department of Home Affairs' Offices within the Republic may issue refunds only in exceptional circumstances where a person has acquired permanent residence permit or has changed his or her status in the Republic prior to 26 May 2014.

"The Department is, in terms of the new requirements under the Immigration Amendment Act, 2011, no longer requiring repatriation deposits as a term or condition for issuing temporary residence visas."

Please does it mean I don't have to pay repatriation fee as i intend to process my study visa next month?

Really? Make Apostle Suleiman prophecy no come come to pass o. Return well sir.

THE most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mohammed Mahmud, is the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)-elect.

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), last Thursday, nominated him to the National Judicial Council (NJC), as constitutionally required.

NJC will meet on Thursday to ratify his nomination and recommend him to President Goodluck Jonathan, who will send his name to the senate for confirmation and subsequent swearing in by the president.

He will succeed the first female CJN in history, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who retires November 20, when she would hit the constitutional retirement age of 70 years.

Mahmud hails from Taraba State and expected to retire on November 10, 2016, when he would be 70 years.

As the practice, FJSC sent alongside his name, two other justices of the apex court, as standby, should Mahmud be rejected by either the recommending authority, NJC or the appointing authority, Jonathan.

The names which went with his were Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen and Mohammed Tanko.

If the succession-by-seniority arrangement is preserved till 2016, Onnoghen is expected to succeed Mahmud.

Onnoghen would be the first CJN from Southern Nigeria in 28 years, if he gets to succeed Mahmud and would be 70 years on December 22, 2020.

The council is also expected to appoint the outgoing Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Sunday Olorundahunsi, as a judge of Ondo State High Court, at the Thursday meeting.

Olorundahunsi, from Ondo, could not make it as a judge of the FCT High Court, due to what was officially said to be non-availability of slot for the South-West.

Though the office of Chief Registrar is not tenured, he once told the Sunday Tribune in an interview that he would exit the seat at the expiration of Mukhtar’s tenure.

He had served three Chief Justices— Aloysius Katsina-Alu, Dahiru Musdapher and the incumbent.

If the seniority arrangement is sustained, he is expected to be succeeded by Hajia Hajo Sarki.

Meanwhile, the council is also likely to set up a probe panel to investigate Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court over a petition against him on the handling of the judgement in the suit that led to a change of administration in Adamawa State.

It was learnt that a copy of the petition brought against him by the sacked acting governor of the state and incumbent Speaker of the House of Assembly, Umaru Fintiri, had been made available to him alongside a cover letter to state his own side of the story.

Ademola was accused of deliberately holding on to the said judgement to frustrate timeous appeal which could have ensured a superior decision before the cancelled governorship election in the state.

A statement issued by the Registrar of the court said the allegation was not true.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/19808-justice-mahmud-is-cjn-elect

Emasel:
Pls what is the range of tuition fees for MTech at DUT.

Research based Master degree is free all you pay for is your accommodation and feeding but you must have a good research proposal to gain admission and be ready to write conference papers and publish in national journals.

pappy2000:
Yeah,I am in Nigeria,i am going to seek greener pasture in south africa.Please dont advice me not to go.I am determined,there is no harming in trying if things go wrong I can always come back.I want to go to south africa becos i can come back after i get the work permit or use that to travel to other places.I got a girl in BOtswana.And i also think sa is one of the few countries that allow visitor path to work permit

Hope everything went well brother?

Hope he will not be too pained by the 14/02/2015 presidential election result?

enigmaotr:
Actually, the system stopped working optimally towards mid 90's! Even then, the system was functioning better than now! The revival of the old system is nothing out of the ordinary. The railway masterplan is beautiful though, only if it would be executed. But what we have now is still nothing worth celebrating. It's not worth it.
Moreover we've always have air-conditioned cabins! Even now, travelling on an air-conditioned cabin from Ilorin to Kano is not more than N2500, so I wonder how a rational being would pay N750 within Lagos! It's crazy. It's meant for the rich and those on emergency.

Thank you for your mature mind and reply. Yes, it may not worth celebrating but we have to bring the good of this administration to the fore. Do have a great weekend.

on October 23, 2014

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor

IN a publication that pictorially showcased ex-governor Kayode Fayemi’s exploit in Ekiti, titled: ‘Leapfrogging Ekiti from Obscurity to Prosperity’ the conception and funding of the new controversial government house were clearly stated that ‘’The administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti State places much premium on infrastructure which it believes is a catalyst for modernizing the state.

Infrastructural development is the second policy thrust of the 8-point agenda of the Fayemi administration otherwise known as the “Roadmap to Ekiti Recovery.

Fayemi: Mine is a legacy of service

‘’Desirous of being remembered for good by citizens of the State, the Fayemi administration conceived what it called “Legacy Projects” bequeathed to the generations yet unborn.

‘’In conceiving the projects, the administration took cognizance of the need to execute projects that accord with the needs of the government and people of Ekiti and critically also, positively project the Land of Honour in the comity of states in Nigeria.

‘’Not ready to be encumbered by the meagre allocations from the Federation Account as the state is 35th out of 36th on the nation’s revenue ladder, the administration secured a N25 billion bond from the Capital Market.

‘’Upon accessing the first tranche of N20 billion, the administration immediately embarked on the mission to change the face of the state with the Legacy Projects which the new Government House is one of them.”

According to Fayemi, ‘’Ekiti State has lived with the challenge of having a befitting Government House since the state was created on October 1, 1996. The first Military Administrator, as he was designated, Col. Inua Bawa (rtd), was holed-up in a borrowed apartment before building an official residence with bricks sourced from Ire-Ekiti Burnt Bricks Factory.

‘’Successive administrations since then made do with some buildings in the Government House complex, including the present abode of the state’s number one citizen known as the Osuntokun Lodge. The fact that the Lodge lacked many facilities befitting of the residence of a governor and therefore “very inferior” to other Government Houses in the country, made the need for a new Government House in Ekiti very imperative.

‘’This inadequacy came even more to the fore at the death of the former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, with guests pouring in from all over the country to commiserate with the government and people of the state on the monumental loss. To add to the state’s sorrow, the governor could not receive two sets of guests at the same time.

‘’But that rather embarrassing experience has become history with the construction of the new Government House situated on the Ayoba Hills in Ado-Ekiti, the new edifice, like the biblical “House on a Hill” can be seen from all parts of the city.

‘’While dismissing the claims of the opposition that the project is self-serving, Fayemi argued that the new Government House belongs to the people of Ekiti and not his personal property.

‘’He added that it would continue to serve as the official residence of all coming governors, long after he would have left office. The new Government House, will go down as an important statement of the New Ekiti that the Fayemi administration has always thought possible: It is an Ekiti State that plays second fiddle to none.’’

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/built-new-ekiti-government-house-fayemi/#sthash.tImE7FaL.dpuf

enigmaotr:
Over 30 years you say?
The last time I boarded a Train as a Passenger is less than 18years ago. If you say 15years, I'd agree with you. That's exactly when PDP came to power.

Our railway system stop functioning optimally since late 80's.

click2cbn:
Op, that train that runs along Oshodi under bridge (with passengers hanging on any available iron) get AC?

No, that's the old train. The Federal Government just inaugurated this brand new coaches.

Goandie:
Wen will u pple stop lyin eeeh.
Were d Ac train dey were d pix of d pple hmmm

You may help yourself by clicking the link provided to view comments of people who had use this trains recently.

berem:
Kunle Amuda

Please stop painting what should be dividends,
and rights of citizens, as a favour.
DEVELOP ALL THE RAIL ROADS IN NIGERIA AND
LET TRAINS TAKE OVER INSTEAD OF THE 'COFFIN
ON WHEELS' THAT TAKES OUR LIVES ON THESE
BAD ROADS ON A DAILY BASIS.
I'm an average Nigerian and I refuse to be brain-
washed in the name of second term!

Our rail transport system has been in a state of coma for over thirty (30) years so don't expect miracle to bring it to life. Slow and steady wins the race.

GEJ is working, haters are mewling.

Though it may seem expensive now but the price will soon crash with time. We all have to appreciate the administration for sustaining the revival of Nigeria Railway Corporation.

#GEJtill2019.

20 thousand Lagosians escape Lagos traffic daily in these air conditioned fast trains provided by the Jonathan administration!.



Below are peoples comment online:

Godwin Okokhune: My fellow country men, the truth is GEJ is trying for the resurrection of railways. He has done what others could not do.I know know this because I work with the Nigerian Railways. Those new trains are on the ground running from Ijoko to Lagos every day. There are three trains from Lagos to Kano every week. Other track rehabilitation going from PH to Maiduguri, Zaria ti Kaura. Namoda are on going.So kudos to GEJ.

Victor James: The age of social network and media propaganda. 90% of those who checked "like" on this page are youths. This tells you how people live without finding the facts but just accept hear say. Call your friends, relatives and acquaintances who are in Lagos and know the true facts.

Austin Isikhuemen: @Victor James, Am above 50 and I have had a ride in the train. You seem to look down on the youth. Not a forward looking attitude..

Enebeli Cyril: I wonder what these ungrateful Nigerians have done for themselves that they are criticising our President who is putting on ground what other leaders allowed decay. And for the educated illiterates asking for high speed electric trains, what will they be powered with? These trains will relief the traffic on our roads. We aren't there yet but we're moving in the right direction

Olonade Adebisi: The trains are in existence, I know because I am in Lagos. But truth b told an average Nigerian can not afford it. N750 for a trip for someone that earns 30k per months? In a day spending N1500 on transport... Then its surely not for d poor masses.

Abiodun Afolabi: I am a residents of ijoko where this train is Woking it is real but it s quite expensive
what we all know is that rail transportation is the cheapest means of transportation all globally but this one provided by GEJ is not for common people Because 750 naira from ijoko to Ido is very expensive. Even more than road transportation in Lagos but thanks God is a new one I can say the country is moving but very very slow in speed and the movement is with much pain . Because if a trip to Ido will cost 750naira I think is very painful

https://www.facebook.com/buildupnigeria/photos/a.815103358513221.1073741825.170250019665228/865970830093140/?type=1

Jesusloveyou:
I love d advice,but don't u think is now we need d general? to me,to fight corruption is first aid nigeria need first.it is corrupt dat breed poverty,which lead to violent and insecurity,again weak buhari is better than silent killer gej.

We have to understand that most of those propping General Buhari are yesterday men who intend to get to power using the general, if these people are not on the same page with him as it's glaring he alone cannot curb corruption because there is separation of power in democracy which was different from the general's background of decreeing orders. That was why OBJ had issues working with the NASS during his tenure.

Those that love the people's General has started advising him. What a candid advice.

***edited***
Hope you will be happy and the people's General will allow peace to reign. The cleric rightly told him its good to fight corruption but their is one more thing that is greater than fighting corruption - it's PEACE. When the General loses on 14/2/2015, he will weep again and his ardent followers may cause mayhem seeing their beloved leader crying.

The religious part of his letter is not the whole truth and may I saw this Sheik knows more than he is saying about boko haram...he claims that the real boko haram will start in 2015 if GEJ wins. SSS sir.

October 21, 2014Mohammed Lere

A Kaduna-based renowned Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmed Gumi, has called on a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, not to contest the 2015 presidential election.

The cleric rather suggested that Mr. Buhari should back a younger person to run for the position.

In an open letter to the former head of state, posted on his Facebook page, Mr. Gumi argued that age is not on the side of the retired general and that politicians were only using him to get to power because of his popularity among the masses.

He also said a Buhari presidency would further polarise the country and worsen the security challenges the country is grappling with.

“My brother in Islam, please listen to the words of wisdom,” Mr. Gumi said. “And don’t follow the whims of the riffraff Before they used you the first time to disrupt the second republic, my father advised you against it. Today I am also advising you against contesting in the 2015 presidential election because you will be used to ignite the nation -a dream well orchestered several years ago- and also be used by bad people as a ladder to grab regional and local powers.”


When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Gumi confirmed writing the letter. He said it was his own contribution to peace building in the country.

“I have to write him (Mr. Buhari) that letter because we don’t want crisis in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr. Buhari last week formally declared his intention to seek the APC presidential ticket at a well-attended rally in Abuja. The following day, he obtained the party’s nomination forms.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also seeking the same ticket just as Kano state Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Below is Mr. Gumi’s full message to Mr. Buhari.

Assalamu Alaikum
The Humble People’s General.

I know I have access to you privately but this is meant for others to learn also.

The Prophet -peace be upon him- told one of the most honest and truthful of his companions, Abu Zar Algafary: “Oh Abu Zar, I truly love for you what I love for myself. I indeed see that you are weak so never accept to lead even two people and never accept safekeeping of the orphans wealth.”

An honest and candid advice from the prophet that is still valid today for any leader whose weakness borders on leadership qualities.

The reason for Abu Zar’s weakness has nothing to do with his credibility or truthfulness. Never! The prophet was narrated as saying: “there is nobody under the shadows of trees or bare sun that is more honest in speech than Abu Zar”.
Abu Zar – May Allah be pleased with him- is ascetic and inmaterialistic. Abu Zar is incorruptible. And yet he is not suitable for leadership.

I am not claiming to be even by an atom’s weight anything close to our noble prophet, yet I am encouraged to give you these same advice by the virtue that you are not also close to Abu Zar in piety. We are living in a time of great tribulations and fitnah especially for this Ummah because of our collective iniquities, ignorance of religious instructions and the love of Dunyah.

Sir, your weakness is not in your past impeccable record of accountability of public wealth and the fight against corruption and indiscipline. Your weakness is in your inability to control men compounded further by your strict and obsessive rejection of corruption.

Don’t be surprised. You may need to understand that Islam being a pragmatic religion allows the use of Zakkat and public wealth as an instrument to pacify and lure influential people for the sake of righteousness, peace and stability. In modern governance today it translate to security vote.

Thus men are also controlled by money. So if your policy of governance is obsessibly centered on sealing tight the use of money, you will have great problem with men. An Arab poet said: “A fool cannot be the leader of his people but the true leader of the people must feign foolishness”.

It’s convenient for your ardent supporters to quote copiously from the annals of history your great achievements but when your failures and weaknesses were pointed out they say that was in the past. Is the lessons of past history only good for the positive achievements? Doesn’t that also explains our incessant failures?

Your Excellency, good intentions are never enough. In the past, because of your clean records and straightforwardness you were lured by men who want only the vanities Dunya to uproot a young democracy on the caprices of fighting corruption. Corruption is no doubt an evil but there is a more monstrous evil than corruption. That is turmoil and insecurity. Peace and stability are the most important part of governance that no price is to high for them.

The lack of peace, stability and security is the major predicament of this nation since independence. So when you were naively used by men to derail one, that is the greatest disservice you committed to the nation the ills of which we are yet to recover from.

Do you truly believe Allah is still not in cognizance of that? You were led to uproot a duly elected leader and incarcerate him for close to two years knowing fully well that he has no charge of even the corruption that was labeled against him. Yes, Shagari was the leader and therefore he bears all the responsibility of misdeeds in his government, so also you were a leader and you should bear all the responsibility of derailing the peace and stability of governance in this country as a consequence of that putsch.

Your weakness in control of men became evident when the very people that used you to revolt against a constituted authority came back to uproot you from the seat of power. Your own kinsmen. Without a gun cocked in your defence.

Today the corruption you were deceived to fight against has reached unimaginable level coupled with the worst state of insecurity and peace in the nation. There was just recently an attempt on your life like many of us.

All this because you the honest people that are given the privilege of strengthening the Armed forces left it to meddle in politics. We thus lost everything. Neither the power nor the security.

A believer is not stung from the same hole twice. Men used your innocence before to get power and dump you. Please be sensible today. Some other men still want to use you to get power and surely they will dump you again. You don’t share the same philosophy at all. Even though as I explained later, your obsession and philosophy of fighting corruption is not the priority of Nigeria today. What Nigeria needs utmost now is peace and stability? This can only be achieved when the religious ethnic and regional divide is tamed. And you can only tame it with people without much precedence. People without much following. Yet people that are constructive and have the ability to control men.

If Sardauna today is alive in your situation he will never contest for the presidential seat because of his deep understanding of what the nation needs. He will step down for a more acceptable younger person. It’s on record that Sardauna even at the age of under 60 said he was not going to contest again, preparing his only house in Rabah for retirement.

I’ll give you a similitude to buttress my point of priority. A person seriously injured and fractured from a road traffic accident when brought to the emergency room, the first priority of the doctors is to secure an intravenous line. Meaning get a drip set working into his veins to protect his vital organs like the heart and kidneys from the effects of shock and loss of blood. The fractures, even though serious and the source of the blood loss, may take days and weeks before they are even attended to beside the superficial dressings.

Nigeria now needs peace and stability first. Then we talk of good governance later even though it’s the source of the predicament we are facing.

The present government has already charged the situation and played the religious divide to its advantage. It’s in circulation now, a SW pastor calling on Christians and the church to vote Jonathan as their only Saviour. This religious card will be used to cover his deficiency in governance.

Your Excellency, you should understand too, that many, if not most of your supporters, are also looking up to you to protect them from the onslaught on their religion and region. This also the Christian will never believe the otherwise.

Therefore the stage is set for religious confrontation which is the least the nation needs.

What we need as a priority is peace and stability.

From my view, if APC can support as an example Ameachi or Okorocha/Kwankwaso or El-Rufai or Tambuwwal ticket and the PDP will have Akpabio/Muazu or Ribadu or Shekaru, the next four years will. – insha Allah – witness stability both in the north and south. And the electoral body will get the necessary infrastructure that subsequently the next election will be free and fair and the true reflection of Nigerians.

If you may ask, why can’t this same peace be achieved with you and another Christian running mate?

Gen. you have antagonist, and they are many and also as ardent as your supporters. Your supporters have the biggest proportion of the underprivileged of the society which is the petrol that can be easily ignited by the slightest spark. The spark will be when you’re declared the loser. And you know you can very well lose if the Christians follow their church -and why not in this era of mediocrity.

On the other hand if Jonathan comes back. BH will be real not the political one we see. The turmoil will engulf the whole country not only the north. That is why I also call on PDP to present some other candidates.

My brother in Islam, please listen to the words of wisdom. And don’t follow the whims of the riffraff. Before they used you the first time to disrupt the second republic, my father advised you against it. Today I am also advising you against contesting in the 2015 presidential election because you will be used to ignite the nation -a dream well orchestered several years ago- and also be used by bad people as a ladder to grab regional and local powers.

I rest my case here.

My best regards and condolence for your recent loss.
May Allah guide you and protect you from the evil men and the jinn. Amin.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/169844-dont-contest-2015-election-prominent-islamic-cleric-sheikh-gumi-tells-buhari.html

https://www.facebook.com/AhmadAbubakarMahmudGumi?fref=nf

Never trust this politicians. When has PDP member started attending APC meeting, which Tambuwal did?

I will get there! God will help you Mr. Governor. Amen.

I wish him what he wished himself but definitely not Aso Villa.

I hope he will be able to raise money for his campaign

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, has complained about the fees charged by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its expression of intent and nomination form.

But the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, while issuing the nomination form to Buhari Thursday, assured that the leadership of the party will do everything to hold a rancour-free primary.

Speaking while at the APC headquarters to pick his nomination form, the former Head State said he tried during the meeting of the party 's National Executive Committee to see if he could influence the scaling down of the fees but could not.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/2015-presidency-buhari-laments-high-cost-of-apc-nomination-form/191450/